The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-04

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ENTRANCE TO a MINE At VICKsnURG. From
Harpcrs.
Dly Of the raw material by the South was
stoppcd for the period during which the
war continued.
Ncarlp all these things were donated by
individuals and communities. Very many
of the garments had the namc Of the donor
stamped upon them with stencil plate.
Quite Il numbcrO Of tho articles seen by the
writer had the name, now forgotten. OF
lady with post fiicc address at Jlucsvll.e,
Wis
The assault OF May @ convinced all,
officers and men, that NckSburg was
much moro securely intrcnched than had
teen supposed, and that the only way TO
capture 1t would be by siege.
Accordingly all made up their minds to
await tho result patiently, but Of the final
fall of the stronghold no one Entertained "
doubt Indeed, of ultimate triumph every
man seemed from the start TO have full
confidence.
AS before stated, after settling down TO
siege there were comparatively few
wounded.
Back OF SWEETS garden under some
small trees the dead from the Division hos
pital were buried.
1t was not possible TO provide collins and
so the dead were wrapped in blankets and
covered over with carth-tlll their shallow
graves were filed As the siege progress
ed all the wounded and sick who were able
TO be moved were put in ambulances and
conveyed to boats on the Ealoo river from
whence they went North.
Cane grew in abundance all about and
by cutting a number Of these stocks, tying
them together with strings, and putting
the two ends on cross pieces resting
upon stakes driven In the ground, quite
comfortable and springy cots were i'm
prOviscd for the hospital.
Swctt's house had all the time been used
as place for storage of drugs and hospital
supplies.
SWEET himself was a short, thick set man
with Il rotund stomach.
He used TO stand around and lean on his
cane with much seeming tomplaccncy In
his yard were several punches Of fragrant
JasamInc IN full bloom Thus is the most
beautiful and delicously fragrant Hover,
seeming the air with its delightful odor
In the timber all about were magnificent
specimens OF Magnolia having upon their
branches, in May and June, long beautiful
blossoms.
Figs ripcned in Swctt's garden during
the siege These, while not liked by some
when gathered fresh from the trees, by
others were relished exceedingly.
Thus, tree flower and fruit lent somc-
thing of their charms to assuage the
horrors Of war.
As soon AS General Joseph Il. Johnston
discovered that Grant had securely in
vested VIcksburg. he began organizing a
force to relieve the garrison This force
sought to attack Grants rear on the
line OF the Big Black Grant, who by this
time was receiving renforccments from the
North, was fully on the alert, and con.
fronted Johnston with ample force to keep
the latter Mt a safe distance from the op-
crations against NlCksburg
Meanwhile all sorts Of stories were in cir
culation-ncarly all tavorablc, however, to
the Fcdcrals At one time it was rumorcd
Port Hudson, some three hundred miles
down tho river, II ID capitulalcd to General
Banks: at another, that the Coufrdaratcs
could not hold cut longer; AGAIN that
Richmond was taken aud then that Wash
ngtou had been captured by Lee.
river shcilad NtcksburL and sometimes the
writer with ona or more comrades would
go out upon high hull IN front of the hos
ptal from whence the bombardmCut could
be seen.
The mortar boats were perhaps eight
miles distant and first flash would be
seen, then discharge of the mortar, then
u streak of fire, then burning fuse; this
NnulI n th,a a and lbpn do.
sccnd, and just before reaching the ground
another flash, the explosion of the shell,
broke upon the vision.
Some time elapsed after the flash was
seen before the report could be heard.
The shells thrown by these mortar b ats
were of one and two hundred pounds cali
Der, and all through the siege were thrown
ut regular intervals during the nighttime.
One cannon belonging to the Confcd-
crates received the appellation OF "WhIst.
ling Dick." The ball it threw passed
through tho air with peculiar whlstling
noise that could be heard by all on the
southeastern aspect of the works. II was
u fine reech-loading rined cannon OF En-
glish manufacture.
Toward the latter part OF juno. rumors
OF the fall OF Vicksburg pcrvadej the
command, and later, as the National amt
versary drew near, it was said II most de-
terminei assault would be made on the
4lh of July.
Finally, preparations for this were in
progress when on the 81 Of July word
came that tho Confederates had already
made propositions looking toward a sur
render, and next day, tho Fourth Of July,
Vicksburg, after wlthstanding a siege Of
forty-six days, capitulated.
The command, though long expecting
this event, were almost wild with Joy
Some surprise was, however, felt that the
Confederates should have yielded on the
day they did; the belief, though, prevailed
that they had in some way gained an ink
ling OF the intended assault and felt
as though they could not withstand another
determined effort on the part OF the FEEDER
ais.
lin IN date this WA tho most imDOrtant